Box Score Anyone who's hit the snooze button once too often and spent the rest of the day working from behind can relate to what happened to the AU women's basketball team on Thursday (Jan. 2) in Midland, Mich.
The Eagles fell behind early and spent the majority of the game playing catch-up. The result was a 65-49 loss to the Northwood Timberwolves.
The loss was Ashland's third straight and gives the Eagles a 5-4 record, 3-2 in the GLIAC. Northwood is also 5-4 and 3-2.
The Timberwolves led, 17-4 eight minutes into the game. At halftime, the 'Wolves were in front, 28-19. The Eagles made several runs at the Timberwolves in the second half but spent most of the game looking at a double-digit deficit.
In the first half, AU had 15 turnovers. Those miscues helped the 'Wolves build that lead. For the game, Northwood outscored the Eagles, 20-10 in points off of turnovers. AU did a much better job of protecting the basketball in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes, the Eagles had five turnovers.
AU's cause wasn't helped any when junior guard Taylor Woods picked up her second foul less than four minutes into the game. Woods ended up with 14 points, but foul difficulties limited her to 26 minutes. She ended the game with four fouls.
Finally, Northwood was able to collect 13 offensive rebounds and that led to a 14-2 edge for the Timberwolves in second chance points. That assault was led by Kaitlin Susan, who had 13 rebounds, eight off the offensive glass. Susan came into the game sixth in the conference in rebounds, averaging 7.5 rpg.
On the positive side, AU freshman forward Suzy Wollenhaupt fell one rebound shy of a second straight double-double. The rookie scored a team-high 17 points and had nine rebounds. Wollenhaupt did her best to bring the Eagles back from that halftime deficit as she had 13 second half points.
Guard McKenzie Miller had a fine all-around game with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds.
NU's Lauren Robak led all players in the game with 19 points. Robak scored all of her points in the second half. After the break, she made 7-of-10 shots from the floor and 3-of-6 attempts from three-point range.
Gabrielle Rivette had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Eagles against the Timberwolves.
Ashland will play at Lake Superior State on Saturday (Jan. 4, 1 p.m.).
AU
WBB/ALK
